Jenny Craig

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Jenny Craig
Born 1932
Berwick, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation Businesswoman:
Weight Loss/nutrition
Racehorse owner

Jenny Craig (born Genevieve Guidroz in 1932 in Berwick, Louisiana) is an American weight loss guru and founder of Jenny Craig, Inc.

Raised in New Orleans, Genevieve Guidroz married Australian Sidney H. Craig. Although neither had formal training in nutrition or exercise, Mrs Craig developed a weight loss regimen, after working for Nutrisystem for some time, that led to her creating a weight-loss company in the mid-1980s with her husband. Their company was one of the pioneers in transforming weight loss into a booming industry. In 1983, she started her first commercial weight loss program in Australia. The success of their program inspired the couple to expand to the huge American market in 1985 where they established headquarters in La Jolla, California, and eventually added weight loss centers in Canada, Puerto Rico and New Zealand.

The couple sold the majority of their interests in Jenny Craig, Inc., in 2002 to ACI Capital, a New York-based private investment firm, and MidOcean Partners, a New York and London-based private investment firm.


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[edit] Philanthropy

Jenny and Sidney Craig are involved in a number of philanthropic causes including the San Diego Hospice, Easter Seals, United Way/CHAD, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Peace At Home's domestic violence program, among others. In 1992, they committed $10 million to Fresno State University for its School of Business and Administrative Services, later renamed the Sid Craig School of Business. In 1996, they committed another $10 million to the University of San Diego, $7 million of which was used to build the Jenny Craig Pavilion, a multi-use sports pavilion that was dedicated in October 2000. Craig has one half brother named Tyler Craig, who manages the sports complex and is the assistant director for all of the major athletic happenings.

[edit] Accident

From her book, The Jenny Craig Story: How One Woman Changes Millions of Lives, she discusses her muscle disorder focal dystonia, and her one and only regret in life. "I would not have gone to sleep on that couch," she says recalling the regretful accident. "I fell asleep and my head fell forward, resting on my chest, and as it happens sometimes, I guess my mouth was open. A commercial came on the television really loudly and when my head snapped up my lower teeth locked over the upper teeth and I had to pry them down." She continues: "The trauma created a problem called focal dystonia. Five hundred thousand people in America have some sort of form of focal dystonia. It can even be an eye twitch. It's really a neuromuscular disorder that creates abnormal movement." Craig says she lost use of all the muscles in her entire mouth and jaw area. The 75-year-old mother of two admits she was terrified. "I was petrified," she says. "I didn't know what it was and that's why I kept looking for a diagnosis. They did MRIs and they said I was in perfect health." But her condition was not getting any better. "I was getting progressively worse," she says. "My muscles were all stripped. So as they got weaker and weaker, it was more difficult for me to speak." Although she was now unable to do commercials and give speeches on behalf of her multi-million dollar company, Craig persevered, visiting 18 doctors, with 18 different methods. They suggested everything from acupuncture to physical therapy to Botox, which she said she received 12 injections of. "It was the most painful thing ever," she says. "I've had two children and combining both births, this was worse." Undiscouraged by the failing treatments, she was determined to find the right doctor. "I said, 'I'm going to keep trying to find someone who can help me.' And after 18 doctors I finally found someone who was willing to reconnect the muscles," she says. "But he couldn't guarantee that I'd ever speak the same way again." Craig underwent a four-hour surgery where dissolvable screws were implanted in her jaw. Although she may never fully regain her former speech, she says she's got nothing to complain about. "I'm happy to be able to communicate, I'm healthy, and I have a great life. I have so many things to be grateful for, I can't focus on the one negative."

[edit] Thoroughbred horse racing

In 1995, Sidney and Jenny Craig purchased the 237-acre Thoroughbred horse racing stables, breeding operation, and training center in Rancho Santa Fe, California formerly owned by sportsman Gene Klein. The area is home to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Forbes.com ranked Rancho Santa Fe's ZIP code (92067) as the second most expensive ZIP code in the United States real estate market for 2005.

The Craigs are actively involved in racing and have owned a number of successful thoroughbreds. Their colt Dr Devious finished seventh in the 1992 Kentucky Derby but was then shipped to race in England where he won the 1992 Epsom Derby. That same year, their future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly Paseana won the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Gulfstream Park. In 2003, their horse Candy Ride won six races in a row including the Grade I Pacific Classic Stakes in which he set a new Del Mar track record for 1ΒΌ miles.

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